Work near on millions in Rubbermaid projects

Work is expected to begin as soon as next month on millions of dollars in construction and infrastructure improvements associated with the expansion of the Newell Rubbermaid operation in Winfield.

City officials are working with Illinois-based InSite Real Estate to finalize annexation and zoning issues necessary for construction of a $13.5 million, 500,000 square-foot warehouse. Dirt work could start by late April, assuming there are no major hitches in the process, city manager Warre Porter said Tuesday.

The warehouse and distribution facility would be constructed on the east side of town near other properties Rubbermaid operates.

The company announced late last year, plans to close a production facility in Texas and a warehouse and distribution center in Ohio. A bulk of that work is coming to Winfield.

Several pieces of machinery already have been relocated here.

Estimates are that as many as 275 jobs could be created in Cowley County. Rubbermaid employed around 550 people locally before the latest expansion.

The company expects about 57 families to relocate from facilities that are closing.

The city also has been informed that it can receive up to $2 million in Kansas Dept. of Transportation funds for road and railway improvements. Those funds are available through the state’s T-WORKS economic development program.

Porter said the city plans to use the funds to make safety improvements where U.S. 160 meets the bypass. A new common entryway, frontage road and roadway will be funded to serve the Rubbermaid warehouses and any potential industrial park clients.

The improvements will be in area currently occupied by Rubbermaid and Schwan’s.

The city is planning a $1.5 million project, of which $1 million would be funded by the dept. of transportation. Another $1 million is available to Watco Companies for improvements to some railways in town that need improvement and repair, Porter said.

In 2008, InSite – who regularly partners with Rubbermaid – built the 660,000 square foot warehouse Rubbermaid leases in east Winfield just off the K-360 bypass.

The new warehouse is to be constructed on 40 acres that are part of a new 100-acre addition to the Winfield Industrial Park, according to Porter. At this point no general contractor has been chosen for the project.